If well trained, domesticated skunks do make adorable, smart, and cheerful pets. Most times, I notice my skunk enjoys staying out as compared to being caged. So do pet skunks need a cage?
You will need a cage for your skunk if you intend to keep it outside while you’re away. Pens are preferable if you’re looking for a space where your skunk can be free to move around while you keep an eye.
Skunks are more of an outdoor animal and prefer spending quality time outside. You can create a safe environment for your skunk to do that. If you would love to know more about skunk potty training and cage use, keep reading.
Can a Skunk Be Potty Trained?
One of the most critical things to consider and fix upon getting your baby skunk is getting a proper litter box for it. This is vital because skunks splatter well and you sure don’t want your house buried in skunk poop. It is unlikely for skunks to locate a potty box like cats, talk more understand that they should submerge their poop in it.
Although possessing sharp bug trapping instincts, you’ll find a skunk far more engrossed in toying and scratching on their litter than poop inside. You think you’ve seen the craziest part of your skunk until it snatches its litter pad and uses it as bedding. However, I’ll share with you a few tricks that have worked for me in potty training my skunk.
Skunk Potty Training Tips
- To begin with, if you notice your skunk pick a corner you both are okay with, position the litter box right there. The most effective method to potty train your skunk is to allow it to show you where it prefers to go. To prevent them from missing the litter box, their spaces should be moderate in size and not too large.
- My greatest success in training my skunk is using a detached room while positioning the litter box close to its cage. Skunks have a lazy gene so it’s difficult for them to willingly journey throughout the entire house to reach a litter box. There are occasions where you may need more than a single litter box
- Having more than one skunk would imply having more than one litter box as they can be territorial and refuse to share. Living in a large house space may also require you to position a potty container at each end. You should begin from the skunk’s initial preferred corner and slowly move the litter box.
- If your skunk is in the mood to show mercy, it’ll obey and follow the box. If not, it’ll ignore your attempt and keep using the corner you just vacated. You will want to help yourself by sealing those spots you don’t want to poop potty.
A successful way to deter a stubborn skunk from pottying in corners you don’t approve of is to stage a piece of furniture there. Another option is to totally block their access to that particular part of the house.
While some people believe that positive reinforcement works for all litter training, I don’t agree with that. You’ll think positive reinforcement works until you encounter a manipulative skunk. They’ll scarcely exhibit the desired stimulus on purpose, just so you can give them a treat ( quite the trickster yeah?)
I discovered this trick from observing my skunk. At first, she appeared to be understanding and teachable as she followed the changed position of the litter box. When it seemed like she was tired of playing pretty girl and needed to spice things up for herself, she started playing tricks.
In order to get a treat from me, she keeps returning to the exact spot I had moved her litter box away from. She does this even when she’s not in the mood to poop! She is just waiting for some cheerful treats from me. Every time I ruined her plan and refused to reward even her correct responses, she wiggled away fussing.
In closing, skunks don’t have a rigid technique for conditioning them to use the litter box and nobody understands your pet as you do. Find out what works best for your pet so be flexible in moving the litter box around as you want it to be. As you should have gathered by now, skunks are not usually domestic, so they can play deaf and prove stubborn to their owners.
Do Pet Skunks Need a Cage?
Skunks need a fitting spacious cage to enable them to move freely as they want. However, skunks do not appreciate staying locked up in cages for a long period of time. Keeping them caged is not advisable as they tend to become bored and in most cases, develop health challenges in the long run.
These creatures can grow aggressive and restless if confined to a small space. You must allow them to explore around from time to time, to keep their physical and mental health stable. Bear in mind that your skunk will require your watchful eyes during this time because they shouldn’t be left home alone all day.
How Big of a Cage do Pet Skunks Need?
Before purchasing your cute pet skunk, you should get a cage prepared for it. The cage or crate you buy needs to be spacious enough to permit your skunk to move around and stay comfortable. The most ideal option is a cage that can fit huge dog breeds.
The appropriate cage measurement should have 1.2 m (4 feet) depth, 0.92 m (3 feet) width, and 1.2 m (4 feet) length. Ensure the cage or crate is big enough to contain toys, bedding, and a litter box. Skunks by nature, live in dens, so this crate will do well to pass as its den.
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed explaining most of what you need to note about training a pet skunk.
